MCLAREN'S MISERY: F1 DQ PUTS MAX VERSTAPPEN'S FIFTH TITLE WITHIN REACH
Max Verstappen's 5th F1 title is in sight after McLaren's Lando Norris & Oscar Piastri are disqualified from the Las Vegas GP. A post-race skid plank violation causes a massive swing in the championship standings with two races left.
Max Verstappen's quest for a fifth straight Formula 1 championship got a boost after Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri were disqualified after Saturday's Las Vegas Grand Prix.
Verstappen's victory narrowed the point difference between him and Norris to just 42 with two races left. But, a few hours later, McLaren was called to the stewards for failing inspection.
The issue? The skid wear on the McLarens didn't meet the minimum thickness rules. This protective plank on the car's underside had worn too thin, a problem that also led to Lewis Hamilton's disqualification earlier in the year.
McLaren's Andrea Stella explained that the cars were bottoming out more than they had in earlier practices, causing extra ground contact. He noted the damage to both cars was accidental and that the FIA agreed there was no intent to break the rules, acknowledging the circumstances.
Stella apologised to Norris and Piastri for the lost points at such a key point in their championship hopes, after strong outings all weekend. He said that, while it was disappointing, the team is still focused on the last two races.
The disqualifications shook up the standings, stripping Norris and Piastri of all points earned in Las Vegas. Norris went from a 30-point lead over Piastri and 42 over Verstappen to just 24 points ahead of Verstappen, with Piastri holding second based on his number of wins.
Verstappen has won the last two races in Qatar, where F1 heads next, and four of the last five in Abu Dhabi, where the season ends on Dec. 7.
It's quite a comeback for the Dutchman, who seemed out of it earlier in the year. Even after winning in Las Vegas, Verstappen wasn't focused on the championship.
He said that while there's still a big gap, they maximise what they have. He aimed to win again. They will see where they stand at the end of Abu Dhabi.
Las Vegas marked Verstappen's second win in four races. The four-time reigning champ continues to push his way back into title contention, despite his dislike for the event.
Verstappen’s issue comes from the focus on celebrities and parties instead of the race. But he always performs when he gets in the car.
He said some fans like the show, and some like different tracks. He prefers some weekends over others and is not really a showman but understands it's part of the Vegas experience.
Las Vegas was Verstappen’s 69th career win. It was his eighth straight podium, an F1-record eighth win in the U.S., and he beat points leader Norris by over 20 seconds.
Verstappen started second, taking the lead when Norris went wide trying to cut in front at the start.
Norris admitted fault, saying he let Verstappen win by braking too late.
After the first turn, Norris was stuck in third, and Piastri dropped from fifth to seventh. The two McLaren drivers have been battling for the lead in the standings all season.
Before being disqualified, Norris finished second, and Russell was third. Russell now takes second.
Kimi Antonelli of Mercedes crossed the line fourth, but a penalty moved him to fifth, putting Piastri in fourth before he was disqualified. Antonelli is now third.
Piastri hasn't won since the Dutch Grand Prix in August and has just one podium finish in the seven races since. He seems to accept that his title hopes are fading.
Piastri said the first lap was wild, and he will try his best for the next two races to be ready. He said there's still a lot of laps left, and he'll try his best to capitalise if that happens.
Seven-time world champion Hamilton, the biggest mover of the race, qualified 20th after Ferrari's first last-place qualifying result since '09. He finished eighth.
Charles Leclerc was credited with fourth for Ferrari, as he and Hamilton both finished in the points after failing to finish in Brazil, which drew criticism from Ferrari's John Elkann.
SERGIO PEREZ BREAKS SILENCE ON CADILLAC’S FIRST FOUR RACES OF 2026 F1 SEASON
Discover why Sergio Perez is confident in Cadillac’s 2026 path despite urgent needs for better pace and reliability fixes.
Sergio Perez didn’t waste time sharing his thoughts on Cadillac after the first four races of the 2026 Formula 1 season.
Cadillac shows up in 2026 as F1’s newest team, but honestly, not a lot of people expected fireworks right away. With veterans like Valtteri Bottas and Perez behind the wheel, the team’s start has been a mix, some moments full of promise, others derailed by reliability issues.
Still, Cadillac isn’t just stuck at the back. Lately, they’ve been right there fighting with Aston Martin and even managed to split them in Miami, which turned a few heads.
Perez knows the team is at risk of falling behind in this crazy-fast development race, though. “We still have work to do, but I’m confident we’re on the right path,” he told reporters, including Motorsport Week.
He added, “Sometimes, once tyre degradation sets in, we can hang with the midfield, but they always seem to find another gear. There’s a long way to go this season, but we’re in a rush to find more pace. We know Aston will get stronger, and we don’t want to be left behind.”
Racing Aston Martin has actually brought Perez some enjoyment. He especially likes battling Fernando Alonso, calling those fights fair and satisfying. Still, he pointed out a weak spot: “We’re having fun with them. Racing Fernando is always great because he’s so fair. But we struggled with tyre degradation; we burnt through them too quickly. We picked the hard compound, but honestly, looking back, I should’ve gone with the soft.”
He said there’s plenty to analyse, and really, the key is getting a better grip on their car as they look ahead to Canada. “We don’t have much time, but in the short term, we need to fix the degradation. We have some ideas, but putting them together is our biggest challenge in the next few weeks.”
Cadillac may be the new kid on the block and still finding its feet, but it’s already starting to make an impact. The road out of the lower ranks won’t be easy, but they’re moving in the right direction.
HOW KIMI ANTONELLI’S THREE-RACE WIN STREAK IS REDEFINING THE MERCEDES TEAM HIERARCHY
With a 43-second gap in Miami, Antonelli proves he’s ready to lead the World Championship. Can Russell bounce back in Canada?
David Coulthard, the former Formula 1 driver, recently pointed out that Kimi Antonelli might be on track to overtake George Russell as Mercedes’ team leader.
Antonelli has been on an impressive run, clinching victories in the last three races and pulling ahead by 20 points over his main competitor and teammate, Russell.
At the Miami race, the young Italian once again outperformed his more seasoned teammate, with Russell managing only fourth place, trailing by 43 seconds.
Coulthard acknowledged Antonelli’s rapid rise in 2026, which is just his second season in F1. He highlighted Antonelli’s strengths and suggested that the Italian is, in many ways, now leading the Mercedes team.
“He’s come of age,” Coulthard said during the Up To Speed podcast.
Despite being relatively new, Antonelli has shown resilience, dealing not only with the pressure from a driver like Lando ready to strike but also with technical glitches like inconsistent paddle shifts. Coulthard mentioned how Antonelli kept his cool even when his engineer, Bono, was trying to help troubleshoot the issue in a tense moment.
“I think he’s earned the right to lead the World Championship,” Coulthard added, noting that this situation probably feels uncomfortable for George. Still, the expectations now lean heavily toward Antonelli leading the team, especially based on recent results.
Coulthard also pointed out that Russell has the experience and skill to reclaim his position as the team’s lead driver, but emphasised that only one can come out on top; someone must finish first and the other second.
The rivalry between them might start opening doors for other teams. Coulthard noted that improvements from McLaren, Ferrari, and Red Bull were already noticeable, especially in Miami.
“Winning in the best car isn’t always straightforward. Many have tried and struggled,” he said.
For Russell, who is feeling the weight of this momentum shift, the upcoming race in Canada will be crucial if he wants to close the gap and halt Antonelli’s winning streak.
